Al Larson Photography

I’ve been out on the bluebird trail again. Today I peeked into a nest and found a tiny bluebird just hatched. The parents had already removed the egg shell and were behind me scolding for the intrusion. When I look into a nest I record what I see, maybe take a picture then retreat in a few short minutes. There is no need to prolong the visit and further worry the parents.

Since the female, which does all of the brooding, starts the incubation process after all of the eggs have been laid all of the eggs usually hatch on the same day. So this evening as I write this there should be five baby bluebirds in the nest. In about three weeks the babies will fledge. They will be nearly as large as their parents and can fly. How’s that for speed?

On the way to Prairie yesterday I prepared to descend the grade from Wiggins Flat and came across this view. I’ve seen it many times in fair weather but never during a rain storm. The low lying clouds give the scene an eerie effect.

This scene is of the back waters of Arrowrock reservoir on the South Fork of the Boise River.

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I have been out on the “bluebird trails” again. Here is a fine photo of a male Mountain Bluebird. Out of several hundred bluebirds I encounter each summer, I find a few that I consider photogenic. By that I mean they seem quite tame and they come in close allowing me to get great shots of them. This little guy posed for me by perching on a twig about six feet from me. How can you resist taking pictures at a time like this?

On June 3rd I went out into the Owyhee mountains to check some of my many bluebird nest boxes. Storms were predicted all through southwest Idaho. However, I spent the entire day enjoying sunshine and the warm Spring weather. Toward late afternoon clouds began to form and it looked like a storm was brewing.

This photo was taken looking toward the north. The tiny mountain peak on the center horizon is Boone peak, not too far west of Silver City. I show a lot of the foreground to give the mountains their proper height. The clouds were highlighted enough to stand out against the angry sky beyond.